ABILENE -- Abilene Christian women's tennis continues its homestand over Spring Break with three matches. The Wildcats first play host to South Dakota Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. followed by Friday and Sunday Southland Conference duals against New Orleans (1 p.m.) and Nicholls (11 a.m.).
ACU (7-8, 3-1 Southland) is coming off a 1-1 weekend in which the Wildcats lost to Sam Houston, 5-2, after celebrating a 4-3 win over Stephen F. Austin. ACU has now won six-straight matches vs. the Ladyjacks.
Leading the Wildcats in the win column was junior
Sylvia Viljoen, who extended her respective singles and doubles winning streaks to five matches, after going 4-0 vs. the Ladyjacks and Bearkats from the No. 2 lines.
The Jackson, Miss., native Friday defeated SFA's Zala Ule in straight sets and held off Sam Houston's Isidora Zivkovic Sunday afternoon, 6-2, 7-5. In doubles, she and classmate
Allison Stewart topped SFA's No. 2 team of Annie Walker and Paula Cerda, 6-2, and against the Bearkats they pitched a 6-0 shutout over Andrijana Brkic and Constandena Nicolaou.
"We're extremely happy for Sylvia's success," said Director of Tennis Juan Nunez. "Coach (Bryan) Rainwater has helped her simplify things on the court, and that really has her going strong in terms of confidence. Her play has really solidified us at that position."
Stewart also was a singles winner vs. the Ladyjacks (6-2, 6-3), but the clinching point was earned by senior
Ileana Mocciola, who topped Elena Bliecher at No. 5, 7-5, 6-2.
Sunday, ACU's second singles point was scored by sophomore
Andrea Guerrero, who came back from a set down to beat Andrijana Brkic, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
"The girls are playing for each other and taking on that additional role of being a cheerleader for their teammates on the next court," said Nunez. "More and more we've been playing like a team in what's largely an individual sport. I'm proud of them."
Abilene Christian 4, Stephen F. Austin 3
Mar 05, 2021 at Abilene, Texas (Eager Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Paula Cerda (SFA) def.
Nini Memishishi (ACUW) 6-2, 6-1
2.
Sylvia Viljoen (ACUW) def. Zala Ule (SFA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Nyah Kauders (SFA) def.
Maryjoe Crisologo (ACUW) 6-2, 6-1
4.
Allison Stewart (ACUW) def. Annie Walker (SFA) 6-2, 6-3
5.
Ileana Mocciola (ACUW) def. Elena Bleicher (SFA) 7-5, 6-2
6. Lucy Furness (SFA) def.
Andrea Guerrero (ACUW) 6-4, 2-6, 10-8
Doubles competition
1.
Claire Fisher/
Ileana Mocciola (ACUW) def. Ai Noa Fabre/Zala Ule (SFA) 6-1
2.
Sylvia Viljoen/
Allison Stewart (ACUW) def. Annie Walker/Paula Cerda (SFA) 6-2
3.
Nini Memishishi/
Maryjoe Crisologo (ACUW) vs. Elena Bleicher/Lucy Furness (SFA) 4-4, unfinished
Match Notes
Stephen F. Austin 7-8 (2-3 SLC)
Abilene Christian 7-7 (3-0 SLC)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5,6)
Sam Houston 5, Abilene Christian 2
Mar 07, 2021 at Abilene, Texas (Eager Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Sahaja Yamalapalli (SHSU) def.
Nini Memishishi (ACUW) 6-1, 6-1
2.
Sylvia Viljoen (ACUW) def. Isidora Zivkovic (SHSU) 6-2, 7-5
3. Karla Montalvo (SHSU) def.
Maryjoe Crisologo (ACUW) 6-0, 6-2
4. Constandena Nicolaou (SHSU) def.
Allison Stewart (ACUW) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
5. Sahithi Vutukuru (SHSU) def.
Ileana Mocciola (ACUW) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
6.
Andrea Guerrero (ACUW) def. Andrijana Brkic (SHSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Roos Gerritsen/Sahaja Yamalapalli (SHSU) def.
Claire Fisher/
Ileana Mocciola (ACUW) 6-3
2.
Sylvia Viljoen/
Allison Stewart (ACUW) def. Andrijana Brkic/Constandena Nicolaou (SHSU) 6-0
3. Karla Montalvo/Petra Kaszas (SHSU) def.
Nini Memishishi/
Maryjoe Crisologo (ACUW) 6-2
Match Notes
Sam Houston 7-2 (3-0 SLC)
Abilene Christian 7-8 (3-1 SLC)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,3,2,6,5,4)
